Thromb Haemost 2004; 91(06): 1202-1212
DOI: 10.1160/TH03-06-0378
Vascular Development and Vessel Remodeling
Schattauer GmbH

Enhancement of neovascularization with cord blood CD133+ cell-derived endothelial progenitor cell transplantation

Chen Yang
1   State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Research Center for Stem Cell Engineering and Technology, Institute of Hematology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College,Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
,
Zhi Hua Zhang
1   State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Research Center for Stem Cell Engineering and Technology, Institute of Hematology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College,Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
,
Zong Jin Li
1   State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Research Center for Stem Cell Engineering and Technology, Institute of Hematology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College,Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
,
Ren Chi Yang
1   State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Research Center for Stem Cell Engineering and Technology, Institute of Hematology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College,Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
,
Guan Qing Qian
1   State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Research Center for Stem Cell Engineering and Technology, Institute of Hematology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College,Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
,
Zhong Chao Han
1   State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Research Center for Stem Cell Engineering and Technology, Institute of Hematology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College,Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
› Author Affiliations
Financial support: This work was supported by the grants of National Development Plan of High Technology 863 (2001AA215311, 2002AA223354), 973 (001CB5101) and National Scaling height (95-special-10) projects from the Ministry of Science & Technology of China, the China Medical Board of New York (#01-748) to Han ZC.
Further Information

Publication History

Received 18 June 2003

Accepted after resubmission 27 January 2004

Publication Date:
02 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

The endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are responsible for postnatal vasculogenesis in physiological and pathological neovascularization and have been used for attenuating ischemic diseases. However, EPCs from umbilical cord blood (CB) were not well understood and the homing mechanisms of EPCs remain unclear. To determine the potential application of CB-derived EPCs, we established a culture system to induce the differentiation of CB cells into EPCs. Purified CB CD133+ cells proliferated and, after further vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) antibody purification, differentiated into EPCs expressing endothelial markers, such as VE-cadherin, VEGFR-2, CD31, von Willebrand factor (vWF) and WeibelPalade bodies. These cells could also take up acetylated lower density lipoprotein (Ac-LDL) and bind Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1 (UEA-1).When expanded EPCs were transplanted via tail vein into nude mice, they incorporated into capillary networks in ischemic hindlimb, augmented neovascularization, and improved ischemic limb salvage. In addition, in ischemic tissue, there were elevated expressions of VEGF and stromal derived factor 1α???????????(SDF-1α), both of which had chemotactic effect on EPCs. Moreover, P-/E-selectins was found on mouse ischemic endothelium and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) on CB-derived EPCs. Neutralizing antibody against PSGL-1 blocked the homing of EPCs to ischemic area by 61%. These results demonstrate that CB CD133+ cell-derived EPCs can be applied for therapeutic neovascularization in ischemic diseases, and reveal important roles of chemoattractants and adhesive molecules in the homing of EPCs.